Ryder Cup 2022: Italy celebrates after earning right to host golf's premier team contest

The Ryder Cup is to be played in Italy the first time in 2022, after Rome won the bid to host the prestigious golf tournament. The best players from the US and Europe will face each other at the Marco Simone course, just outside the Italian capital, for the 44th edition of the biennial contest.

It will be the third time that golf's biggest team event will take place in continental Europe, after Valderrama in Spain in 1997 and Le Golf National in Paris in 2018. Scotland has hosted the Ryder Cup twice, Ireland and Wales one time each, and all other editions have been held in England.

"History has shown time and again that the Ryder Cup is pure theatre with the players the stars, and there is no question that the Eternal City of Rome will provide a wonderful backdrop for one of the great occasions in world golf," said Keith Pelley, chief executive of Ryder Cup Europe's managing partner, The European Tour.

Local golfers celebrated the news on Twitter. 2010 European Ryder Cup-winning team member Edoardo Molinari wrote:

22-year-old Matteo Manassero said he hoped to make the team selection.

Ambitus plans to improve the Marco Simone course were decisive for Italy to securing the victory, over bids from Germany, Spain and Austria, according to organisers. "The plans outlined for the golf course at Marco Simone are spectacular alongside the commitment to develop all levels of golf in Italy," said Europe's Ryder Cup director Richard Hills.

Team Europe will defend the title won in Gleneagles, Scotland, in 2014, next year in Minnesota.